Festival

Slam Dunk Festival 2014 Review

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All American Rejects set the fans in to a world wind of cheers, screams as they hit the main stage in the civic hall yesterday. They came out playing all the classics like, Dirty Little Secret, Move Along and Gives you hell. Tyson Ritter had such a stage presence, throughout the whole set keeping banter with the fans and even taking a trip into the crowd when he got down off the stage and walked around the barrier into the screaming fans while still singing away.

Gracing the Main stage as well was pop rockers We Are The In Crowd, I was really psyched to see this band after hearing good reviews before hand and the build up various publications were producing, but I couldn’t help notice that Tay Jardine voice sounded a bit “Horse” and after speaking to a few fans they thought the same. That aside they had a good set that got fans singing along.

Here’s what some fans had to say.

Steve Brand Said: I enjoyed seeing We Are In The Crowd, Downside for me was that the stage lighting was crap, It was mainly shining it into the crowd which really ruined the view because you could barley see.

Viktoria Kohajdova: The festival has been fun and I loved seeing We The Kings and The All American Rejects overall I really enjoyed them the most. I got to go to a few signings too, but it was a shame that we the kings didn't do one but I did get to meet Tyson Ritter from TAAR and that really made my day.

The Monster stage had a lot happening and it was definitely the place to be with some killer bands they had performing on it.

Headlining band Bury Tomorrow came out to the stage with a huge amount of fans waiting for them.  They played there newest track Man On Fire off the new album RUNES which dropped that day, they played plenty of older tracks including scepters which set the fans surfing and even had a couple of fans climbing up a tree and hanging off it screaming lyrics back at the band.

Also on the Monster stage were I Killed The Prom Queen they came out with big choruses and even bigger breakdowns, playing a mixture of old school tracks as well as new material from beloved. The Devil Wears Prada blew me away with the sheer number of people that had turned up to see them play. The band’s set was tight with elegant clean vocals and guitar parts blending together with the aggressive vocals.

Over at the UPRAWR DJ stage MC Lars was ready and waiting for Chunk! No Captain Chunk to finish their set on the Monster stage. While waiting a good size crowd started to grow turning up in merchandise, you could tell these were big fans of his work. As soon as Chunk! No Captain Chunk finished seamlessly MC Lars started his set playing tracks, Download This Song, Space Game.  The crowd grew and everyone starting to dance and really vibe off the set, he was definitely one of my favorites of the night.

Before finishing up I spoke to one last visitor to the festival who had this say.

Amanda Fry: This was my first time at Slam Dunk and it was great, I'm already contemplating for next years line up". I enjoyed seeing We The kings, We Are The In Crowd and All American rejects. I didn’t like that Roaring S#!T.


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Kendal Calling Festival sells out in record time

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Kendal Calling festival has sold out a remarkable 11 weeks in advance of this year’s festival. Kendal Calling has sold out in each of its previous 8 years but this year’s sell out is the quickest yet, leaving the From The Fields team to thank those festival goers who have snapped up tickets to the winner of the UK Festival Awards Best Medium Sized Festival in 2013.
 
This year’s festival features act such as Suede, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Example, De La Soul, 2manydjs, Frightened Rabbit, Clean Bandit, Happy Mondays, Miles Kane, Jimi Goodwin, Gorgon City, Ella Eyre and hundreds of others over 3 days in the stunning Lake District, indisputably one of the most beautiful festival sites in the world.
 
Kendal Calling is one of the highlights of the festival calendar featuring the Kendal Calling Goes Beyond The Stars fancy dress theme, Tim Peaks Diner, a real ale festival, gourmet food, a dedicated children’s Ladybird Arena, a diverse array or markets, the Garden Of Eden healing area,Q and A’s, talks and much more.
 
Having broken the world record for the most people dressed as Superman in one place in 2014, this year Kendal Calling revelers will attempt to break the world record for the most people moonwalking at the same time.
 
Kendal Calling promoter Andy Smith comments – "We've sold out in record time…I'm in a transport of delight!"
 
LINE UP
 
Suede / Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls / Example
 
Happy Mondays /  De La Soul /  Miles Kane / 2ManyDjs (dj set) /  Tom Odell / Razorlight / Augustines / Jimi Goodwin / Frightened Rabbit / Simon and Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene (acoustic) Clean Bandit  / Newton Faulkner /  Athlete / Ella Eyre / Mr Scruff / Lewis Watson / Admiral Fallow / Reel Big Fish / The Heavy / Catfish & the Bottlemen / Rae Morris / Saint Raymond / Dub Pistols / Jess Glynne / Women's Hour /  Findlay / Breton / Josh Record / Black Rivers / Team Me / Norma Jean Martine / Mirror Signal / The Tea Street Band / Champs / Dario G (DJ set) / Lauren Aquilina / Lyger/ Big Sixes /  Etches /  Molly Warburton / Gypsy Hill / Smerins Anti-Social Club / Kimberly Anne / Amber Run / Gallery Circus / Lanterns on the Lake /  The Lucid Dream / Johnny Borrell & Zazou / The Lancashire Hotpots / Aquilo  / DJ Food, DJ Cheeba, DJ Moneyshot – Caught In the Middle of a 3 way mix /  Zion Train – Perch & Dubdadda / Reeps One / The Melodic / By The Rivers / Typesun / Will Varley / We Were Evergreen / Tantz / John Langon Band / Talisman / Will Tramp!  / Drop the Mustard DJs / Zutekh DJs /  English Disco Lovers / Herbal Sessions / Dub Central / Showhawk Duo / Urban Sabotage presents: Davos LIVE / Lisbon / The Membranes / Skutch Manos / Metisa / Colt 45 / MDNGHT / Berlin / Berlin / You / $ista $ista / WALK / Honeyfeet / Harlequin Marching Band / Skittles & Live Band / Cut Capers / Lauren Housley / René / Gypsies of Bohemia / Scatters the Funky Disco Pig / The Grand Old Ukes of Yorkshire / Treedrum / Riot Jazz Brass Band / The Dakota Jim Band / Taylor Jackson / Charlie Cooper / Thingumbob & The Thingumajogs / From A Window / Buffalo Brothers / The Big Easy & Swing Dance / Flamingus / Flavia / The Bear around Your Neck / Whiskey Moon Face / Felix Hagan & The Family / Too Much Love / Saluation Dub Collective / The EME / Dave Rybka / Xander Smith / Urban Folk Quartet / Mint Royale / Baggy Mondays / Dave Haslam / Black Cat DJs / Father Funk /  Gareth Brooks (XFM)  / King Eider / The Hummingbirds / Phoneys & the Freaks / Howling Rhythm DJs / Aaron Wright & Jacqui Abbott  / Kommix Kut / The Raged / Our Fold / Dub Sex / Mark Abbott / Fallback Productions / Sam P / Karl Yates / Northern Soul Dance Classes
 
Glow Dance Tent:
2manydj’s (dj set) / Andy C / Zane Lowe / James Zabiela / Gorgon City / Goldie / Dub Phizix & MC Strategy / Shadow Child / Friend Within / GQ / Lapsley / Ash Howell / My Neu Leng
 
BONDAX & FRIENDS presents
Bondax b2b MJ Cole, Karma Kid b2b Monki, Star Slinger b2b TCTS, Kartel b2b French Kiwi Juice
 
Woodlands
BIRD / Seattle Yacht Club / Love For Zero / Jakarta Club /  Evil Blizzard / The Templebys / The Pinstripe Pigeon Band / Fiona Clayton / The Lottery Winners / Jake & The Jellyfish / Ivan Campo / The Orchid Hunters / Nancy Kent / The Lumberjack Cowboy Heartbreak Trucking Co. / Arran George / Joe McCorriston / Alex Hulme / Mylittlebrother /Baksheesh / Ben Dyson / Gritty Britain
 
Thursday
Craig Charles Funk and Soul takeover

Camden Rocks Festival Update

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JOHNNY BORRELL & ZAZOU, FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS, DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL AND A HOST OF OTHERS SET TO JOIN LONDON’S ROCK N’ROLL STREET PARTY ‘CAMDEN ROCKS FESTIVAL’ 31ST MAY.

On the 31st of May the Camden Rocks Festival will see over two-hundred high-energy bands perform across Camden Town. It’s a one-mile run of thrilling music, exploding across twenty different venues on London’s most hallowed rock n’ roll streets.

The festival is proud to be able to mix established acts from the world of rock and indie alongside a wealth of new talent from the UK, aiming to give much needed exposure to the incredible new music pouring out of the UK right now. Britain’s got talent, but it isn’t being televised alongside the karaoke singers and performing animals for Simon Cowell. In light of this, Camden Rocks Festival is announcing a competition that gives more bands a chance to perform on the day. Check http://camdenrocksfestival.com/ for details on how to enter.

The more times a bands name is submitted, the bigger chance it has of going into the votes that kick off THIS SUNDAY! So bands & fans, GET SHARING & SUBMITTING!

Further acts are confirmed this week as Johnny Borrell & Zazou, Fearless Vampire Killers, Devil Sold His Soul and Mixhell (featuring legendary Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera) join Toseland, A Plastic Rose, Zoax, Little Barrie, Rubylux, Empress, Longy, Money For Rope, Vuvuvultures, Under The Influence, Flagship, The Carnabys, Tax The Heat, The Ratells, The RPM’s, Audio Whores, Adam French, Shooting Stars and Remote View who are also added to the bill this week.

"We're super excited about coming back to Camden Rocks this year,” exclaims Fearless Vampire Killers frontman Keir Kemp. “It's a real family vibe. Best acts from across all genres coming together with the mutual intension of melting faces… amen!"

These artists join already announced acts such as The Subways, Reverend & The Makers, Gnarwolves, Blitz Kids, Nine Black Alps, Turbowolf, The Blackout, Orange Goblin, Ginger Wildheart, Hacktivist and The Virginmarys plus a host of others, see flyer for full details.

Organiser Chris McCormack says “I’m really excited to showcase some of these great new bands I’ve been working with this year. We’re going to set Camden alight (not literally) with the best new music in the UK.”

Camden Rocks Festival is going to be the rock n’ roll street party of the year. Over two hundred of the best new and established guitar bands performing across twenty venues in Camden Town, celebrating everything that is vital, exciting and life-affirming about rock music right now in 2014.

Last year’s event was a sell-out success with over 150 bands taking over Camden. Bands such as Therapy? The Rifles, Hawk Eyes, Rise To Remain, Turbowolf, Fearless Vampire Killers, The Computers, Lost Alone and many more joined forces with legends such as the Sex Pistols guitarist Glenn Matlock, Carl Barat from The Libertines for a day of essential rock n’roll fun and action.

£25 tickets are now available from the link below subject to booking / transaction fees

www.camdenrocksfestival.com

Over 200 bands for £25 playing in twenty different venues, that’s roughly 10p per band!

Venues include:

ELECTRIC BALLROOM *UNDERWORLD * PROUD * BARFLY * JAZZ CAFE * DINGWALLS * PURPLE TURTLE * BLACK HEART * HAWLEY ARMS * MONARCH * THE GOOD MIXER * THE ENTERPRISE * CAMDEN HEAD * THE CUBAN * BREW-DOG * THE RECORD CLUB * DINGWALLS CANALSIDE BAR * THE BEATRICE * THE FORGE * THE BLACK CAP

Hotly tipped breakthrough acts join the T in the Park line-up

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T in the Park festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager are excited to reveal that some of the most hotly tipped breakthrough acts around have joined the bill for this summer’s festival, which will take place in Balado over 11th – 13th July.
 
Kiesza, Billy Lockett, MNEK, Fatherson, Dan Croll, James Bay, Catfish and the Bottlemen, John Wizards, Raleigh Ritchie, Jaguar Skills and All About She are Balado-bound this July, joining the ever-growing T in the Park bill.
 
Canadian-born, London-based singer-songwriter Kiesza hit the top of the charts with the sophisticated house-tinged pop gem Hideaway. A talented and hugely in-demand songwriter, she’s also written for Rihanna, Kylie and Icona Pop and will make her T in the Park debut this summer.
 
Having played his way from the basement to the studio, whilst captivating fans at shows up and down the country, Billy Lockett’s distinctive style brings together piano and guitar aided by a soulful voice, charming lyrics.
 
The hugely in-demand producer and vocalist MNEK was being tipped by the likes of The Guardian, NME, Dazed and Confused and Popjustice when he was aged just 15. He featured on and co-wrote four songs on Rudimental’s platinum selling Home, co-wrote Need U (100%) with Duke Dumont and A*M*E – which earned him a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Dance Recording’, has remixed for Bastille and Tinie Tempah, wrote and featured on Gorgon City’s massive top 5 hit Ready For Your Love, and produced Feel So Good from Kylie Minogue’s new album. 2014 looks to be his busiest year to date, with his hotly anticipated debut album set to firmly establish him as a solo artist in his own right.
 
Glasgow-based four-piece Fatherson hail from Kilmarnock and made their T in the Park debut on the T Break Stage in 2011. They’ve been making waves in the Scottish music scene with their anthemic indie tunes, following a string of supports with bands such as Frightened Rabbit, Feeder, Twin Atlantic and Idlewild. Their latest single I Like Not Knowing is currently receiving major airplay by Radio 1 DJs Huw Stephens, Zane Lowe and Greg James, with the track being voted Most Loved Track on BBC Radio 1’s Review Show this week.
 
British singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Dan Croll combines folk elements and classic Paul Simon-like melodies with electronic beats, African polyrhythms and guitar hooks. He released his debut LP, Sweet Disarray, in March.
 
Singer-songwriter James Bay has been captivating audiences with his raw pop melodies and gravelled voice at appearances at Communion's monthly night at Notting Hill Arts Club in London. A hugely successful run of support slots with fellow T in the Park acts John Newman and Kodaline have won him yet more fans.
 
Catfish and the Bottlemen’s energetic guitar-driven rock and roll is winning them legions of fans across the country. The band signed to Island Records earlier this year, and their latest single Kathleen has been receiving heavy rotation on BBC Radio 1, XFM and on MTV, with the Llandudno-based four-piece widely tipped for great things in 2014.
 
Cape Town-based John Wizards released their eponymous debut album to major critical acclaim last year, with The Guardian featuring the record at no.8 in their top 10 albums of 2013. They played a series of UK dates supporting Jagwar Ma and will bring their infectious mix of South African house, R&B, shangaan electro, reggae, afropop, soukous, rumba and afrobeat to the fields of Balado this summer.
 
Bristol-born Raleigh Ritchie – aka Jacob Anderson – is also known for his role as Grey Worm in Game Of Thrones. He’s supported the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Angel Haze, and his recently-released second EP, Black and Blue, is a stunning mix of urban pop and raw storytelling.
 
The original ninja-DJ Jaguar Skills burst onto the scene with his extraordinary DJ talent and ability to produce awe-inspiring mixtapes, leading to a coveted BBC Radio 1 ‘In New DJs we Trust’ slot. With numerous sold-out UK tours under his belt, he was further propelled into the global spotlight with roof-raising sets at festivals and super-clubs around the world.
 
UK production trio All About She have between them worked with the likes of Dizzee Rascal, VV Brown, Wookie, Roses Gabor and Wretch 32. They wrote Intro for Tinie Tempah’s debut album Discovery, with singer Vanya Taylor writing and lending vocals to his 2011 hit Simply Unstoppable. Having recently released a brand new EP Go Slow, they’re being widely tipped as ones to watch, with Radio 1 & 1Xtra DJs MistaJam, Zane Lowe and Toddla T all giving airplay to their single Higher (Free).
 
T in the Park 2014 – artists announced so far
 
FRIDAY 11TH JULY: Biffy Clyro, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, Imagine Dragons, Pixies, Steve Angello, Alesso, Haim, You Me At Six, Manic Street Preachers, Chvrches, DJ Fresh & Messy MC, Maximo Park, Pretty Lights, Foxes, The Magic Numbers, Royal Blood, The Rifles, Len Faki, Pan-Pot, Drenge, Charli XCX, Josh Record, Jackmaster, Wolf Alice, Factory Floor, Neon Jungle, MNEK, Dan Croll, Lonely the Brave, Hudson Taylor, James Bay, John Wizards, Little Matador, Raleigh Ritchie, Dolomite Minor, Clouds, Alex Smoke.
 
SATURDAY 12TH JULY: Calvin Harris, Paolo Nutini, Pharrell Williams, Elbow, Rudimental, Ben Howard, James, Bombay Bicycle Club, Twin Atlantic, The 1975, The Charlatans, John Newman, Embrace, Katy B, The Human League, Nina Nesbitt, Soul II Soul, The Stranglers, Joris Voorn, Dave Clarke, Duke Dumont, Robert Hood, Carl Craig, Clean Bandit, We Are Scientists, Ella Eyre, George Ezra, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Kiesza, The LaFontaines, Billy Lockett, Twenty One Pilots, Fatherson, The Amazing Snakeheads, Circa Waves, Skream, Chlöe Howl, Guy Gerber, Magda, Jaguar Skills, All About She.
 
SUNDAY 13TH JULY: Arctic Monkeys, Jake Bugg, Paul Weller, Disclosure, Bastille, Example, Tinie Tempah, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, London Grammar, Tame Impala, Kodaline, Above & Beyond, Sam Smith, Passenger, Sven Vath, Metronomy, Newton Faulkner, Chance the Rapper, Slam, Wilkinson, Reverend & The Makers, The Twilight Sad, Earl Sweatshirt, Inspiral Carpets, Julio Bashmore, Jess Glynne, Kerri Chandler, Tale of Us, Levon Vincent, Catfish and the Bottlemen, King Charles, Darlia, George Fitzgerald, Becky Hill, The Minutes, Mark Henning, Red Hot Chilli Pipers and more acts to be announced (line-up subject to change).

Slam Dunk Festival More Announcements

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Just when we thought all the artists and guests had been annouced Slam Dunk knock out other surprise with Sean Smith from The Blackout who will be making an appearance as a guest DJ and the main stage compere!

Slam Dunk have also announced their annual T-shirt design competition. Basically, you could be in the running of designing the official shirt that will be sold across this year’s festivals! Not only will you get your design idea produced, but the winner will also bag 4 tickets to the festival of their choice! So why not give it a try get your creative juices flowing and get designing! More details can be found on the poster below:

Tickets still available here 
http://www.slamdunkmusic.com

Bestival Unveils Boundary Breaking Acts And The Best New Bands

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This years Bestival unveils breaking new acts and some of the hottest bands around including:

Tune-Yards / Factory Floor / Mnek / Wolf Alice / The Amazing Snakeheads / Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats / The Wytches / MØ / Fat White Family / Say Lou Lou / Glass Animals / John Wizards / Ezra Furman / Joel Compass / Woman’S Hour / Pional / Rosie Lowe / Childhood / Kate Tempest / Jessy Lanza / Melt Yourself Down / The Front Bottoms / Hockeysmith / Wild Smiles / Black Orange Juice / Rag N Bone Man / Vaults / Ftse / Tourist / Sivu / God Damn / Happyness / The Correspondents / Bo Saris / Congopunq / Indiana / The Bulletproof Bomb / FÉ / Cousin Marnie

With a cavalcade of big hitters, including OutKast, Foals, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Beck, Busta Rhymes, Candi Staton, Sven Vath, Chase & Status and many more already lined up to take Bestival’s Desert Island Disco to stratospheric new heights, Rob da Bank and the Bestival crew have been beavering away behind the scenes, rooting out gleaming talents to ensure we bring you the freshest acts around. With a long history of championing the next big thing, unearthing the incredible and showcasing the best new sounds, both on his Radio 1 show and at Bestival, these are the cream of the acts getting the man like da Bank all hot under the collar. From boundary pushing mavericks to hip young chaps in this year’s slacks, we’re set to announce a ton of the most exciting bands in the world, who will be dropping in to Robin Hill on the Isle of Wight this September 4-7 to blow you away!

Rob da Bank says: “So in our humble opinion these are the breaking acts of 2014 from the worlds of rock, indie, electronics and pretty much any genre – a delve inside the musical brain of Rob da Bank to find the ones to watch, the ones who'll make records you'll love this summer and the ones who'll make you dance ya socks off in September”. 

With her third album Nikki Nack out this week, we’re pretty darn chuffed to announce Merrill Garbus AKA tUnE-yArDs will be heading across the Solent to bring her uniquely kaleidoscopic collision of aural extremes for your collective listening pleasure. Smashing buckled cheerleader chants into punk riffs with razor-sharp melodies and colossal beats, Merrill, alongside long-time cohort Nate Brenner, is a force of nature when it comes to performing live, so don’t miss out.

Riding a wave of critical acclaim for their eponymous debut album, released late last year, we’re very pleased to say that Factory Floor will return to Robin Hill with an all out assault of mind-melting sequences, crashing rhythms and twisted vocals, plus there will be sets from Grammy nominated singer-songwriter and sometime Rudimental collaborator MNEK, deliriously unabashed indie-noise merchants Wolf Alice, exhilarating Glasgow trio The Amazing Snakeheads, critically acclaimed psychedelic doom purveyors Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, apocalyptic surf rockers The Wytches, Danish electropop chanteuse Mø, and scuzzy rock n roll six-piece and all-round incendiary live behemoth Fat White Family.

We’re not stopping there though, we’ll have live music from BBC Sound 0f 2014 nominees Say Lou Lou, Paul Epworth protégés Glass Animals, genre-swerving pan-global types John Wizards, gritty rocker Ezra Furman, atmospheric soulster Joel Compass, archetypal indie quartet Woman’s Hour, Spanish vocalist and sometime John Talabot collaborator Pional, twisted R&B nightingale Rosie Lowe and hazy pysch dudes Childhood.

And the new music keeps on coming with appearances from Kate Tempest, Jessy Lanza, Melt Yourself Down, The Front Bottoms, Hockeysmith, Wild Smiles, Black Orange Juice, Rag N Bone Man, Vaults, FTSE, Tourist, Sivu, God Damn, Happyness, The Correspondents, Bo Saris, Congopunq, Indiana, The Bulletproof Bomb, Fé and Cousin Marnie.

There’s still plenty more incredible music, mayhem and madness to announce, so make sure you join us at the Desert Island Disco this September for an escapist weekend of off the chain behaviour!

Secret Garden Party 2014 early bird tickets go on sale TODAY

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Following an absolute classic SECRET GARDEN PARTY last weekend organisers have decided to put EARLY BIRD TICKETS on sale today.

Organiser Fred Fellowes summed up :

‘I think this year had the best atmosphere yet. A lot of love came to the Party this year and I like to think we returned it with some great content, so a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to all our Gardeners for making it an outstanding event. Definitely a classic.’

Dates for next year are 24-27 July 2014. Tickets will be same price as Tier 1 tickets this year. (£137.50 plus booking fee). They can be purchased from Ticket link:  http://sgp.seetickets.com

Wychwood, Beer, Cheer and Bubbles.

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This is the 9th Wychwood festival to take place, which is a tragedy for me as it means I have missed 8 years of this fun filled, family friendly, yet modest event, that gently launches you into the summer festival period.  Set in the grounds of Cheltenham race course and overlooked by the Cotswold Hills, this venue is used to horseplay of a four-legged nature, but with neigh a nag in sight, Prestbury Park comes alive with a wide spectrum of characters.

The first days sound track set the pace for what would shape up to be quite the eclectic mix.  Early evening The Beat proved how they secured their rightful place high up the Ska tree. With Rankin Roger & Son getting the crowd stomping to the ever popular Ska beats. Toploader followed with their breezy, sing a long songs, that keep the crowd on a high.  Friday night headliners Soul II Soul with their blend of R&B, Soul and Electronica, surprised many who thought them a one song band (Back to life). With each song played you couldn’t help regret not paying more attention 25 years ago. But better late than never!! They exit the stage, leaving the crowd craving for more.

Saturday sees the music shift to a broader range. Unfortunately the delectable Kate Nash pulls out poorly. The Wedding Present are a crowd pleaser as they work through some of their phenomenal body of work. A French twist next from festival favourites The Caravan Palace, who’s zany Gypsy Jazz, Electro swing, is a sight and sound to behold, a big band wall of music fronted by the mesmerising stage presence that is Zoé Colotis a must see. The night’s headliners are 80’s Electro New Wave sensation The Human League and with a catalogue of hits, the crowd were on their feet from the opening “Mirror Man” to the ever popular “Don’t You Want Me” ending another great night with “Together in Electric Dreams”. The set and backdrop pay homage to the futuristic approach of the 80’s, that seem just as futuristic and relevant today, Little wonder so many artists since, have voiced this Flamboyant and eccentric group as an influence.

Sunday becomes a field of laughter with the humorous yet skilful take on classical and popular songs by the Ukele Orchestra of Great Britain.  Smiles a plenty but with admiration from this musically talented troop.  The laughter continues as Bill Bailey and his side splitting comedy take over.  Nobody being prepared for the music, jokes and insanity of this middle-aged madman. This massive force could have easily have been the finale for the main stage, but the organisers decided to bring the evening to a close by treating an appreciative crowd to the Dub Powerhouse that is Dreadzone.  This reggae tinged set was the perfect end to a fabulous weekend, having the crowd bounce and groove out the evening.

 A couple of standout performances on the smaller but no lesser stages included Becky Rose, with her one gal, synth based beats and Craig Charles funk and soul show, where the crowd were whipped up in to a frenzy to match that of the energetic, multi-talented showman.

When the main attractions have finished and the majority of the crowd have turned in for the night, one stage is determined to party on regardless. As I approach the big top tent with strobes escaping from the entrance I can’t help but think that there is something missing?   Upon entry I am handed a pair of wireless headphones and as I walk on through to a sea of crazy revellers it is apparent that I have entered a nut house.  This is the silent disco, a room full of clubbers and two DJ’s but no music through the loud speakers.  I put the headphones on and find myself instantly condemned to the madhouse as I flick between the two DJ’s and adjust my dancing style accordingly.

Music for all genres means that young or old you will at some point find your dancing shoes and at the very least discover new and exciting sounds.  There are over 100 workshops to choose from, complimented with cuisine from the four corners of the world.

A lasting memory of the festival will be that of a  man releasing  another wave of bubbles they glisten like the northern lights as they pass over the light filled stage.  Wychwood really captures the essence of what a festival is about with a great energy and atmosphere.